Derek Talbot

Derek Talbot (born 23 March 1947) is a former badminton player from England. One of Britain's most successful "all-rounders," he won eleven English National Championships four singles, three doubles, and four mixed doubles. He also won four Commonwealth Games gold medals and in partnership with the formidable Gillian Gilks he won three mixed doubles crowns at the prestigious All-England Open (1973, 1976, and 1977).

Early and personal life Talbot was born and raise in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear county. He married June Kay on 18 July 1975 in Newcastle upon Tyne.

Career World Championships Talbot won a silver medal in the 1977 IBF World Championships in the mixed doubles with Gillian Gilks, losing against Steen Skovgaard and Lene Køppen in the final.

1972 Summer Olympics Talbot competed in badminton at the 1972 Summer Olympics, where badminton was played as a demonstration sport. In the men's doubles he and Elliot Stuart, his former schoolfellow in Newcastle upon Tyne, were defeated in the semi-finals by Ade Chandra and Christian Hadinata 15–8, 15–12. In the mixed doubles, he paired with Gillian Gilks and they won the gold medal, beating Svend Pri and Ulla Strand of Denmark in the final 15–6, 18–16.

Commonwealth Games Talbot represented the England team at the 1970 British Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he competed in the badminton events, winning a gold medal in the mixed doubles.

Talbot was also successful at three mor Commonwealth Games; winning three more gold medals, a silver medal and two bronze medals between 1974 and 1978.

Retirement Talbot decided to retire from the international badminton in 1981.

Achievements Olympic Games (demonstration) Mixed doubles

World Championships Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1977 Malmö Isstadion, Malmö, Sweden Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard Lene Køppen 12–15, 17–18 Silver Silver

World Cup Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1979 Tokyo, Japan David Eddy Ade Chandra Christian Hadinata 5–15, 8–15 Bronze Bronze

Commonwealth Games Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Paul Whetnall Walkover Bronze Bronze 1978 Clare Drake Arena, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Prakash Padukone 9–15, 8–15 Silver Silver

Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Elliot Stuart Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 15–6, 6–15, 15–11 Gold Gold

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1970 Meadowbank Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland Margaret Boxall Roger Mills Gillian Gilks 8–15, 15–12, 15–12 Gold Gold 1974 Cowles Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand Gillian Gilks Paul Whetnall Nora Gardner Walkover Gold Gold 1978 Clare Drake Arena, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Barbara Sutton Richard Purser Alison Branfield 15–9, 15–9 Bronze Bronze

European Championships Men's singles Year Venue Opponent Score Result 1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Thomas Kihlström 5–15, 16–17 Bronze Bronze

Men's doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1972 Karlskrona Idrottshall, Karlskrona, Sweden Elliot Stuart Willi Braun Roland Maywald 11–15, 15–18 Silver Silver 1976 Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland Eddy Sutton Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 15–13, 12–15, 6–15 Silver Silver

Mixed doubles Year Venue Partner Opponent Score Result 1970 Afan Lido, Port Talbot, Wales Gillian Gilks David Eddy Susan Whetnall 16–17, 16–17 Silver Silver 1972 Karlskrona Idrottshall, Karlskrona, Sweden Gillian Gilks Wolfgang Bochow Marieluise Wackerow 15–6, 15–4 Gold Gold 1974 Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria Gillian Gilks Elliot Stuart Susan Whetnall 5–15, 15–3, 15–3 Gold Gold 1976 Fitzwilliam Club, Dublin, Ireland Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard Lene Køppen 6–15, 15–12, 17–15 Gold Gold 1980 Martinihal, Groningen, Netherlands Karen Chapman Lars Wengberg Anette Börjesson 15–9, 9–15, 12–15 Bronze Bronze

International tournaments (32 titles, 24 runners-up) Men's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1970 Scottish Open Paul Whetnall 15–13, 9–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1971 Irish International Ray Stevens 15–4, 17–16 Winner 1971 Scottish Open Robert McCoig 15–5, 15–12 Winner 1972 Canadian Open Sture Johnsson 15–7, 15–6 Winner 1972 U.S. Open Sture Johnsson 3–15, 15–13, 8–15 Runner-up 1972 Scottish Open Ray Stevens 1–15, 15–3, 10–15 Runner-up 1973 U.S. Open Sture Johnsson 4–15, 4–15 Runner-up 1976 Mexico International Ray Stevens 15–5, 15–7 Winner 1977 German Open Sture Johnsson 15–12, 15–18, 7–15 Runner-up 1977 Dutch Open Sture Johnsson 8–15, 15–6, 18–13 Winner 1978 Scottish Open Rob Ridder 18–14, 12–15, 15–6 Winner 1981 Portugal International Kevin Jolly 6–15, 4–15 Runner-up

Men's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1969 South African Championships Tony Jordan Kenneth Parsons Rennie du Toit 15–7, 8–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1970 Scottish Open David Eddy David Horton Elliot Stuart 18–13, 5–15, 9–15 Runner-up 1971 Irish International Elliot Stuart Roger Mills Ray Stevens 15–10, 15–3 Winner 1971 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart Erland Kops Svend Pri 11–15, 5–15 Runner-up 1972 U.S. Open Elliot Stuart Mike Adams Thomas Carmichael 15–9, 5–15, 15–3 Winner 1972 Canadian Open Elliot Stuart Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 11–15, 13–15 Runner-up 1972 German Open Elliot Stuart Ng Boon Bee Punch Gunalan 9–15, 12–15 Runner-up 1972 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart Erland Kops Svend Pri 6–15, 15–11, 7–15 Runner-up 1973 India Open Elliot Stuart Indra Gunawan Amril Nurman 15–11, 15–8 Winner 1973 U.S. Open Mike Tredgett Jim Poole Don Paup 15–11, 11–15, 12–15 Runner-up 1973 Jamaica International Mike Tredgett Jamie Paulson Yves Paré 11–15, 1–15 Runner-up 1973 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart David Eddy Eddy Sutton 12–15, 15–18 Runner-up 1973 Swedish Open Elliot Stuart Poul Petersen Svend Pri 9–15, 15–1, 10–15 Runner-up 1974 German Open Elliot Stuart Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 15–12, 14–15, 15–5 Winner 1974 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 15–8, 12–15, 4–15 Runner-up 1975 Scottish Open Elliot Stuart Jim Ansari John Britton 12–15, 15–7, 15–8 Winner 1977 Canadian Open Eddy Sutton Bengt Fröman Thomas Kihlström 17–16, 11–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1978 Scottish Open Mike Tredgett Billy Gilliland Fraser Gow 15–6, 15–7 Winner 1979 Dutch Open Elliot Stuart Morten Frost Steen Fladberg 15–8, 18–17 Winner 1980 Scottish Open Kevin Jolly Ray Stevens Mike Tredgett 4–15, 11–15 Runner-up 1981 Portugal International Ray Stevens Billy Gilliland Kevin Jolly 18–17, 12–15, 15–12 Winner

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1969 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Wolfgang Bochow Karin Dittberner 15–7, 1–15, 15–5 Winner 1969 South African Championships Gillian Gilks Tony Jordan Susan Whetnall 15–10, 15–13 Winner 1970 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks David Eddy Margaret Boxall 18–14, 15–8 Winner 1971 Irish International Gillian Gilks Roger Mills Julie Rickard 15–4, 15–9 Winner 1971 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Per Walsøe Pernille Kaagaard 5–15, 15–6, 17–14 Winner 1971 All England Open Gillian Gilks Svend Pri Ulla Strand 12–15, 15–8, 11–15 Runner-up 1971 German Open Gillian Gilks Wolfgang Bochow Kay Nesbit 15–8, 15–10 Winner 1971 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Svend Pri Ulla Strand 15–4, 6–15, 17–16 Winner 1972 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks Robert McCoig Margaret Beck 15–9, 15–11 Winner 1972 All England Open Gillian Gilks Svend Pri Ulla Strand 15–12, 8–15, 12–15 Runner-up 1973 Denmark Open Nora Perry Elo Hansen Ulla Strand 15–4, 14–17, 10–15 Runner-up 1973 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks David Eddy Nora Perry 13–15, 15–6, 15–5 Winner 1973 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Elliot Stuart Margaret Beck 15–11, 15–3 Winner 1973 All England Open Gillian Gilks Elliot Stuart Nora Perry 9–15, 15–13, 15–8 Winner 1974 All England Open Gillian Gilks David Eddy Susan Whetnall 5–15, 15–7, 10–15 Runner-up 1976 All England Open Gillian Gilks Mike Tredgett Nora Perry 15–9, 15–12 Winner 1976 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard Lene Køppen 15–6, 13–15, 15–3 Winner 1976 Scottish Open Gillian Gilks Mike Tredgett Nora Perry 18–17, 15–9 Winner 1976 Mexico International Joke van Beusekom Mike Tredgett Nora Perry 5–15, 6–15 Runner-up 1977 All England Open Gillian Gilks Mike Tredgett Nora Perry 15–9, 15–9 Winner 1977 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard Joke van Beusekom 15–7, 15–10 Winner 1977 Swedish Open Gillian Gilks Steen Skovgaard Lene Køppen 15–6, 15–9 Winner 1979 Dutch Open Gillian Gilks David Eddy Barbara Sutton 15–8, 15–11 Winner

Post-Badminton Towards the latter stages of his badminton career Derek ran a sports shop, which specialised in racket sports, with ex-South African badminton internationalist Eddie Allen, and local man Neil Woodward, in Newcastle. They sold their own Vicourt badminton rackets. When he retired from serious competition, he set up his own badminton company called Talbot Torro Badminton. In recent years Derek left his more traditional career behind and ultimately set up the Natural Patient homeopathic centre in Ibiza.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to badminton.